Police officer and suspect killed in vehicle attack on U.S. Capitol, one officer injured
Capitol Police Officer William Evans was killed and a second officer was injured after a car rammed into the heavily guarded barrier outside the U.S. Capitol on Friday. The suspect was shot and killed.
Officer Evans, an 18-year veteran of the police force who served with the department’s first responder unit and known to friends as Billy, died shortly after the attack, the police chief said.
“It is with profound sadness that I share the news of the passing of Officer William ‘Billy’ Evans this afternoon from injuries he sustained following an attack at the North Barricade by a lone assailant” U.S. Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman said in a statement. Capitol Police said the force was “devastated” by the death.
“The other USCP officer who was struck by the car is in stable and non-threatening condition” the police department said.
After ramming the officers, the attacker “exited the vehicle with a knife in hand” and ran towards the officers after which one officer drew their weapon and shot the suspect, police said. The suspect was identified as Noah Green, 25, of Indiana.
President Joe Biden said in a statement that he and his wife were heartbroken to learn of the attack and expressed condolences to Evans’ family. The flags at the White House were directed to be lowered to half staff.
Investigators do not yet know the motive for the attack, but do not believe it was “terrorism-related” at this time, Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department said.
The Capitol Police officer was honored with a police procession on Friday. The video showed officers from Capitol Police force and Metropolitan Police Department, as well as members of the Secret Service, paying their respects for a motorcade carrying the body of fallen officer William Evans.
